By 1812Blockhouse
Key Dates to Remember
The Richland County Board of Elections has released important dates for the upcoming General Election on November 7, 2023. Mark your calendars for these crucial deadlines:
- October 9th: Columbus Day, Office Closed
- October 10th: Voter Registration/Update of Information Deadline, Office Open until 9 pm
- October 11th: Early In-Person Voting Begins, First Day to Mail Absentee Ballots
- October 31st: Last Day to Apply for a Vote by Mail Absentee Ballot
Early In-Person Voting Hours
For those who prefer to cast their ballots ahead of Election Day, early in-person voting is an option. Here are the hours for voting at the Board of Elections Office 1495 West Longview Avenue, Suite 101 in Mansfield.
Week One, Two, and Three
- October 11th to October 27th: Weekdays from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Week Four
- October 30th: 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
- October 31st: 7:30 am to 8:30 pm
- November 1st to November 3rd: 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
- November 4th: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- November 5th: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Early in-person voting will end at 5:00 pm on Sunday, November 5th.
Acceptable Forms of Voter Identification
When you head to the polls, either for early voting or on Election Day, you’ll need to present an acceptable form of identification. Here are the approved options:
- An Ohio driver license
- An Ohio state ID card
- An interim identification form issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
- A U.S. passport or passport card
- A U.S. military ID card, Ohio National Guard ID card, or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID card (with photo)
Key Changes in Voter ID Requirements
This year, there are some changes in the acceptable forms of identification:
- A U.S. passport or passport card is now acceptable, which was not the case previously.
- Utility bills, bank statements, government checks, paychecks, other government documents, and concealed carry permits are no longer acceptable forms of ID.
Digital or copied versions of ID are not acceptable, except for the Veteran ID Card (VIC) issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs, as the VIC is now only issued digitally.
With these key dates and requirements in mind, Richland County voters can prepare to exercise their civic duty in the upcoming General Election. Don’t forget to mark your calendars and ensure you have the proper identification ready.
